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Care Opinion

Disappointed in patient transport options

Posted By Disappointed neice

"Disappointed in patient transport options"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Rehabilitation (inpatient) Scottish Ambulance Service / Patient Transport Service

(as a staff member posting for a patient/service user),

My 68 yr old aunt who has a hypoxic brain injury and learning difficulties had been referred after a lot of falls to the rehab centre at forth valley royal for 7 weeks. She totally loves it and the staff are great there. I am normally able to drop her off at 9. 40 and my dad goes and picks her up but this Thursday we had a issue as I was night shift and couldn't drop her off. I contacted patient transport who said as she was ambulant she didn't need patient transport and could get a taxi. I am a nurse myself and was so disappointed that on this one occasion my aunt could not be collected and had to fork out £20 for a taxi when I have sent patients home from hospital with less needs than my aunt to get them home I love the nhs but really .. .....

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Responses

Response from Pat O'Meara, General Manager, Events, Scottish Ambulance Service 5 years ago
Pat O'Meara
General Manager, Events,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Head of Events

Submitted on 15/06/2018 at 11:41
Published on Care Opinion at 12:59

Dear Disappointed Niece,

I was sorry to read that you had problems getting your aunt home. We do assess requests for ambulance transport as we need to ensure that we only take people with a medical need to hospital and normally, if people are able to use taxis, we would ask them to use an alternative. When we do say that we will not be providing an ambulance, we do signpost to alternative providers and we also have an appeal process if you feel that we have been unfair or unreasonable. You may also with to know that there is a hospitals costs travel scheme that may be able to help if the cost of getting to and from hospital is an issue for your aunt.

Please let me know if you would like any more information about how we managed your call. I can be contacted on 0141 810 6101. I hope that your aunt is keeping well.

Regards,

Pat

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Response from Pauline Donnelly, Person Centred Manager, Department of Nursing, NHS Forth Valley 5 years ago
Pauline Donnelly
Person Centred Manager, Department of Nursing,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 15/06/2018 at 13:12
Published on Care Opinion at 13:28

picture of Pauline Donnelly

Dear Disappointed Niece

Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch to leave such positive feedback in regards to the rehab center I will pass this on to the team, who I am sure will be highly delighted.

I am so pleased to hear that your Aunt enjoys coming along as much as she does and hope by the end of the 7 weeks she will be more confident with her mobility and will help to reduce the risk of her falling.

I was sorry to hear of the transport difficulties you had, hopefully the information from our colleagues at the Scottish Ambulance Service will be helpful and this will make things a little easier for you and your Aunt.

Please pass on our very best wishes to your Aunt and again thank you for your lovely feedback.

Best wishes

Gayle Hutchings

Senior Charge Nurse

Day Medicine/Rehab Center

NHS Forth Valley

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